June 2025 Feature:

David Bejarano – “El Paso Kid becomes San Diego‘s 1ST Latino Modern Times Police Chief”

I met David Bejarano when he was a Sergeant with the San Diego Police Dept. I became very fond of this man from El Paso Texas who spoke Spanish and related to my community with very little effort. He reached out to us and soon he was one of us with concern for the community. What experience in his childhood prepared him to work in San Ysidro and Barrio Logan? David was very athletic and had an interest in sports his whole life. Did this influence his life?

At a party he met a very beautiful young woman. Their relationship flourished with phone calls from phone booths and hundreds of letters. After only two dates he asked her to marry him. This very brave open-minded young woman said yes and, when David finished his time in the marines, he came to San Diego. Esperanza and him were married in a church in El Cajon with a reception in Balboa Park. They have now been married 47 years. David refers to Esperanza as his biggest supporter.
Have you ever wondered if there have been cases that had a big effect on David and his work? Let’s be honest- many people do not feel officers/cops have feelings. In this interview David is very open about some of the cases that had a huge affect on him personally and professionally. David applied for Chief of police.
Who told him he had the job? Watch this podcast and you will know how he learned he had been selected. David also talks about his visit to the White House and meeting President Bush.
What is David doing today? He will tell us about how he values his family and the joys of being a grandparent.

May 2025 Feature:

Lisa Montes – “Did you know- Solana Beach’s first community was Mexican- American!”

Have you ever wondered why so many Mexicans and Mexican Americans ended up in Solana Beach? Were you even aware that there is a large Latino population in a community named Eden Gardens? This Podcast will familiarize you with this community and the people who established it. First, clear your head of what you know about I-5. During this time, you are in the middle of citrus and avocado fields. There is a demand for agriculture workers but where will they come from?

The farmers placed ads in the newspapers asking for people to come and work in this environment. Some came from northern California, others as far away as Bisbee, Arizona to work and make the first community in Solana Beach.

My friend Lisa Montes was born and raised in this community. Her mother had also been born in Eden Garden and her father came from Bisbee, Arizona. Her parents were the first couple married at St. Leo’s Mission. Lisa remembers playing in the arroyo (creek) and her imagination ran wild as they built forts, canoes or ate the grapes found there. Lisa was so fortunate in that many of the neighbors were aunts, uncles or cousins. The families supported each other and helped build that community. She remembers that at Christmas Santa would parachute onto a field behind St. Leo’s mission. The kids all waited with excitement to see who would be the first to spot the plane bringing Santa. The church played a major role in the social activities of that community with three-day fiestas being not only a fundraiser but a social event for the community. TV legend Desi Arnez, who had a home in Del Mar, was one of the regular performers at these events.

As Lisa got older, she realized the value of the history of her community. She volunteers at the History Center and is currently the curator of the History Center. She witnessed the creation of the “Tree of Life,” dedicated to the original 13 families that established la Colonia. Inside the community center there is a Veterans wall and outside as you enter the park you will see the tribute to the various branches of the service. Lisa’s heart will always be in Eden Gardens as they face today’s issues that affect the first Solana Beach Community.

February 2025 Feature:

Bea Zamora and Dr. Mario Aguilar: Dancing through Life

Bea Zamora and Dr. Mario Aguilar are two community members who have contributed to the Latino community for well over 40 years. Their involvement in the movement goes back to their college days. Bea grew up in Los Angeles and Mario in San Diego. At Hoover High School, Mario was president of COPA (Chicanos Organizing for Atzlan).

In order to continue receiving her father’s death benefits her mother told her she had to enroll in college. So that was Bea’s next move. She enrolled in Mt. San Antonio Community College. They both have encouraged not only their own children but other young people to attend college. Their own children have been involved in Danza since they were young. Today their grandson is also involved in Danza.

In 2017, they formed a 501(c)3 with the goal of educating and preserving the culture and traditions of indigenous mestizo livening both Mexico and the United States.

After viewing this podcast you will not only know more about Bea and Mario but you will feel so much pride because they are members of the community.